Hosed-bud

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I can't express how much I wish The Rosebud would go under new management.



Yet another completely crapful dining experience last night when pheromone and I settled for Rosebud because Spike's was closed. Everything was wrong, as it usually is there. Every time I go back I leave kicking myself for wasting a meal's worth of money in a hopeless establishment.

Before getting myself started, I should mention this: being from the Mid-Atlantic, I have big issues with "diners" that don't really serve diner cuisine. Diner is a cuisine, meaning to most people; patty melts, milkshakes, club sandwiches, chicken baskets, breakfast all day, and bottomless cups of coffee.

Kelly's makes an attempt at that. Rosebud doesn't, and it was a big disappointment the first time I went to see their yupped-out dinner menu that would be better suited for a midling hotel restaurant. Things I've ordered, especially from the specials listings, have ranged from meh to spit-out-awful.

What was wrong just last night:

*addled, forgetful service
*brought cole slaw instead of fries
*fries overdone
*no Tabasco on Tabasco onion rings
*no water refills
*refused to make grilled cheese (okay, I'll let that one slide since restaurants aren't obligated to cook off-menu. But grilled cheese should be on any diner menu.)

pheromone, tell me if I forgot anything. What bothers me is that we have arguably one of the most beautiful diner cars in America sitting right there, and it sucks. I routinely wish management would be taken over by a real diner family who knows how to cook and who knows what an actual diner experience ought to be. Glad I live nearer to Kelly's.

Yes I know, some of you love The Rosebud, and I respect your opinion. But I said last night that I was going to voice mine, so there it is.

Blech.

Comments

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

I guess I get to be the voice of the minority.

I like the Rosebud. I was there today, with two friends.

I tend to go once a week, on weekdays for breakfast, usually around 11am or so. I sit at the bar, have a good meal, and go on my way.

Apparently that is just me, though...

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

No worries! I know some people like it. I just had to speak my piece. :-)

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

You must share your secret of success, that's all :) (I've never had horrible experiences there, just below average enough that I've no compulsion to go back.)

[ron_newman]

I've also had good experiences there. Maybe my waitress, Helen, just likes me. On the other hand, I never go there for weekend brunches. The line is just too long.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Sigh. I so miss Picante. I liked their brunch, and walking past the long line of patient Rosebud diners-to-be to be seated instantly at Picante was an extra bonus.

[ron_newman]

Me too. Fortunately, they and their brunch live on in Central Square.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Me too :( With all due respect to the crepe lovers, I'd rather see Picante back than Mr. Crepe.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

bah, I want both!! :-)

[spatch]

I'm with you, albeit quietly. I go in and order the same thing I always get -- though that was determined thru trial-and-error and I know which dishes to steer the heck away from there (that French Onion soup is miserable, f'rinstance.)

I also go in during off hours and chat with the waitresses, and what I've gotten from the place is that it has a definite townie vibe in spite of its attempts at an upscale menu. The waitresses are townies; people with laptops and coffeeshop expectations are perceived as not. If the owner wants to impose rules on his space, especially since table space is at a premium there, then he's got every right to. And you've got every right to eat elsewhere.

(And personally, laptops at a restaurant? No. Just -- no.)

The Rosebud has a severe identity crisis, no doubt about it. It knows it's a beautiful diner, it knows it is of historical importance, but it wants to serve upscale food -- and what it does serve isn't. It wants to be upscale, but it prefers the company of townies. And that's kind of sad, because if it figured things out, it would be enjoyed by a lot more people.

But I would rather have a beautiful diner car with crummy service than a TGI Bennibee's, because at least there's always the hope that there's a change in management and we get a nice dinery food thing out of it.

[komos.livejournal.com]

Kelly's manages to meld townie and other pretty effortlessly, and though I've gotten craptastic service there from time to time, I don't mind so much because a) the food is consistently decent (to outright good), b) they don't give me grief if I'm there alone just reading over coffee, and c) the owner has never attempted to steal a beverage from me, regardless of its provenance.

Yes, the Rosebud's owner has the right to set any rules he sees fit. He also has the right to choose between being an ass when enforcing them or to take a kinder, gentler route that doesn't automatically alienate customers. That, at least, is common to either side of the identity equation. Both neighborhood diners and upscale restaurants tend to keep more customers if they treat them well.

Personally, I think that laptops and, for that matter, newspapers have no place in an eatery if you're there with anyone besides yourself. It's weird seeing a laptop on a table of four, sure. It's just plain rude to have your nose buried in a paper while you're in the same situation.

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

I know which dishes to steer the heck away from there

As an aside, they had a chicken pot pie once as a special, and it was quite wonderful. I keep hoping I will see it appear again.

(And personally, laptops at a restaurant? No. Just -- no.)

Agreed. The "set up an office in a booth" at coffeeshops is even starting to get to me. Want a study group with some friends at Diesel? Sounds reasonable. Want to take up a booth, alone, for most of the afternoon? That is when it starts to get to me.

Restaurants are a whole other level - I would not take out a laptop in a restaurant for pretty much any reason.

[tahnan.livejournal.com]

So I suppose I must admit that there are two restaurants in which I do use my laptop. One is New Asia, when I'm there for lunch; the other is Anna's--but does that count as "restaurant" as opposed to "eatery"? (I suppose I more or less draw the line around "I'm spending less than six dollars for the meal.")

Then again, I also have no problem at all with people taking booths at the Diesel for the afternoon, as long as they're, you know, paying for it in food & coffee purchases. I myself prefer a table, since I know I don't need that much space, but I don't begrudge people the booths. Especially if they have a laptop, as outlets can be few and far between.

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

I also have no problem at all with people taking booths at the Diesel for the afternoon, as long as they're, you know, paying for it in food & coffee purchases.

The only time I really have a problem with it is when a friend and I come in for lunch, say, and even though we are paying customers, we cannot find a place to sit. I feel like the expansion part of Diesel is set up almost for people working, I wish they would set aside the tables in the very front, near the window, for people NOT working, so that people like myself have a shot at sitting down.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Bleah, I wouldn't want to be the staff person who had to draw a line between working and not-working.

"Excuse me, you'll have to move to a different table, this is the non-working section."
"What? I'm reading a book! So are three other people in this section!"
"Yes, but I just saw you underline a passage, so you're studying."
"Yeah, well, I happen to know that she (points) is a Cultural Studies grad student. It may look like she's just reading the Weekly Dig, but she's actually analyzing it. Make her move too!"

[swissarmykate.livejournal.com]

hehehe.

[ron_newman]

Anna's, to me, doesn't count because it's a cafeteria rather than a restaurant where you are being waited on.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Must have been a different chef on the chicken pot pie when I was there -- that was the "spit-out-awful" special I was referring to!

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

Ehh, they just used up all of the goodliness on my order. ..grin..

Nice icon use, by the way.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

...aaaand there was an article in today's Globe about the "set up an office in a booth" phenomenon, citing Diesel among other places where it happens:

Wi-Fi wars (http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/07/09/wi_fi_wars/)